Exhaust plug for preventing debris from entering engine heads

ABSTRACT

An exhaust plug for engine heads including a plug portion having a generally square configuration. The plug portion has a lower end, an upper end, and peripheral side walls. The lower end is dimensioned for being slidably received within a port of the engine head. An outer cover portion is secured to the upper end of the plug portion. The outer cover portion has a generally square configuration. The securement of the plug portion to the outer cover portion defines an outer periphery for positioning over the port of the engine head when the plug portion is disposed therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an exhaust plug for engine heads and more particularly pertains to preventing dust and debris from getting into engine heads.

[0002] The use of vehicle engine plugging devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, vehicle engine plugging devices heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of protecting engines are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.

[0003] By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,242,221 to Silvey discloses an engine cylinder head port closure for sealing the surface port of an engine, for pressure testing. U.S. Pat. No. 5,462,023 to Furuya discloses a cover for preventing drops of water from entering an ignition plug. U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,495 to Kuo discloses a plug for blocking an engine oil galley hole formed during manufacture.

[0004] While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objective and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe an exhaust plug for engine heads for preventing dust and debris from getting into engine heads.

[0005] In this respect, the exhaust plug for engine heads according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of preventing dust and debris from getting into engine heads.

[0006] Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved exhaust plug for engine heads which can be used for preventing dust and debris from getting into engine heads. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In the view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of vehicle engine plugging devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved exhaust plug for engine heads. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved exhaust plug for engine heads which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

[0008] To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a plug portion having a generally square configuration. The plug portion has a lower end, an upper end, and peripheral side walls. The lower end is dimensioned for being slidably received within a port of the engine head. An outer cover portion is secured to the upper end of the plug portion. The outer cover portion has a generally square configuration. The securement of the plug portion to the outer cover portion defines an outer periphery for positioning over the port of the engine head when the plug portion is disposed therein.

[0009] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

[0010] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0011] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0012] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved exhaust plug for engine heads which has all the advantages of the prior art vehicle engine plugging devices and none of the disadvantages.

[0013] It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved exhaust plug for engine heads which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

[0014] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved exhaust plug for engine heads which is of durable and reliable construction.

[0015] An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved exhaust plug for engine heads which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such an exhaust plug for engine heads economically available to the buying public.

[0016] Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved exhaust plug for engine heads for preventing dust and debris from getting into engine heads.

[0017] Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved exhaust plug for engine heads including a plug portion having a generally square configuration. The plug portion has a lower end, an upper end, and peripheral side walls. The lower end is dimensioned for being slidably received within a port of the engine head. An outer cover portion is secured to the upper end of the plug portion. The outer cover portion has a generally square configuration. The securement of the plug portion to the outer cover portion defines an outer periphery for positioning over the port of the engine head when the plug portion is disposed therein.

[0018] These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

[0020]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the exhaust plug for engine heads constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

[0021]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention illustrated being placed within a port of the engine.

[0022] The same reference numerals refer to the same parts through the various figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0023] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular, to FIGS. 1 through 2 thereof, the preferred embodiment of the new and improved exhaust plug for engine heads embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference number 10 will be described.

[0024] Specifically, it will be noted in the various Figures that the device relates to an exhaust plug for engine heads for preventing dust and debris from getting into engine heads. In its broadest context, the device consists of a plug portion and an outer cover portion. Such components are individually configured and correlated with respect to each other so as to attain the desired objective.

[0025] The plug portion 12 has a generally square configuration. The plug portion 12 has a lower end 14, an upper end 16, and peripheral side walls 18. The lower end 14 is dimensioned for being slidably received within a port 20 of the engine head 22. The plug portion 12 could also be provided with rounded edges to make an easier coupling with the port 20.

[0026] The outer cover portion 24 is secured to the upper end 16 of the plug portion 12. The outer cover portion 24 has a generally square configuration. The securement of the plug portion 12 to the outer cover portion 24 defines an outer periphery 26 for positioning over the port 20 of the engine head 22 when the plug portion 12 is disposed therein. The outer cover portion 24 acts as a seal to prevent any liquid or the like from entering the engine head 22.

[0027] The present invention is essentially a plastic device 10 that keeps dust and other foreign material out of engine heads 22 during building, storage, and transportation. The present invention also keeps moisture out, preventing rusting. The number of devices 10 used for a particular engine head 22 depends on the number of cylinders and ports 20 that the engine has.

[0028] As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.

[0029] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and the manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

[0030] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modification and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modification and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

What is claimed as being new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the united states is as follows:
 1. An exhaust plug for engine heads for preventing dust and debris from getting into engine heads comprising, in combination: a plug portion having a generally square configuration, the plug portion having a lower end, an upper end, and peripheral side walls, the lower end being dimensioned for being slidably received within a port of the engine head; and an outer cover portion secured to the upper end of the plug portion, the outer cover portion having a generally square configuration, the securement of the plug portion to the outer cover portion defines an outer periphery for positioning over the port of the engine head when the plug portion is disposed therein. 